Time to Say Goodbye

It is amazing how time flies! It has already been 15 weeks? I still can’t believe it that I was just walking into my apartment and meeting my roommate for the first time. Now Grisel, Elena and I have become the best of friends! It has been a sad last few days because we started the week with TWC graduation! It was great to see everyone for the last time to say goodbye.

TWC Graduation

Also, it was a time for several of the other students to show off what they have been doing for the last few months here. Wow, what some of the other students were doing was amazing! One group called LEAF, an environmentally friendly organization created from interns from TWC, created a video to show people how wasteful we are. Not only did I feel lazy because I did not turn in a big project, but now I felt wasteful too! It was a great video, very well put together, incredibly funny, and most importantly it was very informative. Also, they gave out the Civic Engagement Awards and have several speakers. It was a short but sweet ceremony because we were able to see every person from the program all at once. My friends after the program were holding signs that said “free hugs and kisses,” it almost made me cry!

Free Hugs!

In addition, it was my last day at my internship on Wednesday. We had a going away and a holiday party at a nice restaurant near DMG called Tuscana West. Open bar, appetizers, lunch, and dessert and of course spending the last few hours with my co-workers! The other intern and I had to give a speech about our best and worst moments. I shared with the group that my best night was the Vice Presidential Debate and my worst was the day after. Yes, I fessed up to two former Congressmen that I came into work incredibly hungover, but in my defense nobody had any idea! It happens, it is how well you are able to cover it up that matters. Also, we all brought in a $10 gift for the gift exchange. I came home with a nice variety of candles and the other intern, who is headed back to Florida, got hand warmers! He probably will not be needing those! Me on the other hand, I am just trying to mentally prepare myself for how cold it is going to be at home! Yikes! It was really sweet DMG gave us gift cards to Barnes & Noble. I am a big reader, so I will have no problem using it! I am also graduating, so I am going to need something to do! Clearly I am not ready for a full-time job without getting time off for spring break and summer vacations!

I also had the opportunity to go to a Georgetown vs Savannah State basketball game. It was one of my goals at the beginning of the semester because I am a huge sports fan. I got free tickets from the person I went to campaign with in Ohio who has season tickets and then went to the game after work! I wish I was able to stay longer to watch them play a good team. It was a complete blow out like 100-38. The sweet part of the game was when they put their senior walk on into the game and he scored the last two points to make the score break 100. The crowd went wild, other than that it was not much of a game at all. My team is Marquette so I will be home soon enough to watch them play!

Georgetown Basketball

It has been a great 15 weeks and I only hope that my experience will help you to decide to come to Washington DC. If your experience is half as good as mine, I can assure you it is worth it. If you have any questions at all you can find me on Facebook: Krysta Carlson, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Setting up for the holidays

Downey McGrath set up the office for the holidays. The interns and the assistants were in charge of setting up the Christmas tree. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows and we listened to holiday music as we set up the tree. It was very difficult setting up a fake Christmas tree because in Northern Minnesota we always have real trees. This tree was intense. Cords all over the place for the lights, it took us forever to figure out that we had to plug in all of the lights before every string would work. It was really fun though and it got me in the holiday spirit.

Putting the star on the tree at DMG

Also, because it is the last weekend before we leave I decided to make my roommates dinner. I have to tell you living with Mexicans is amazing. I came home to prepared meals all of the time and I told them one time I was going to surprise them and cook. I never even cook for myself, but for an audience? I was nervous! I googled everything from cutting avocados (not recommended) to making fajitas. I made way too much food, but after 14 weeks of being here, there is nothing wrong with leftovers. It’s been a few days and I can tell you that nobody has died from my cooking so I consider that a success.

My food--I'm so proud!

Eating dinner

When I went to Ohio to campaign for McCain I met several people that work at another lobbying firm. They invited me to their “small” Christmas party. I was expecting a little bit of appetizers and a small group of people, not exactly. I walked into a room full of hundreds of people! It was a little bit intimidating, but in my last week here I felt confident I could mingle my way around. Not to mention there were free drinks, appetizers, and a sushi bar! My two favorite things: not drinking, silly! People and food! =)

Turkey Overdose!

What better way to celebrate than to eat mounds of food?! That’s my kind of holiday! The RA’s at Fenestra had a pre-thanksgiving feast in the clubroom. It was really sweet because a lot of people in my building did not have family to spend time with so it was an opportunity for all of us to hang out and eat. The RA’s made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie just for us! It was amazing! We spent the night hanging out, talking, and playing pool. Oddly enough Thanksgiving eve is a big night to go out! Americans will make any excuse to throw a party! My friends and I decided to paint the city red because nobody had to work the next day. Fun times!

Fenestra Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Eve

The next day I took the metro to the stop closest to Baltimore, New Carrolton, and my Aunt picked me up! I had not seen her in ten years! I was even more excited for my sister and my grandma to fly out for the holiday and three infant cousins that I had never met. When I got there it was amazing! How do you catch up on ten years? There is so much that has happened, I didn’t know where to begin. The funny thing about family is that they don’t really care what you have been doing, they just want your company. Forget about all of the amazing things I was doing in DC, this was by far the best weekend that I had this semester. My family and food, what more could a girl ask for?!

The crew

Alyssa and me

I’m so blessed. You come to realize living in a big city that there are so many people that are less fortunate. DC has one of the highest homeless rates. Hearing the statistic is one thing, but witnessing it everyday is much more difficult. My internship, Downey McGrath Group, was located next door to a homeless shelter until they closed it down. For the first few months of work I saw several homeless people a day lying next to buildings and by statutes. They may ask you for change, but they are for the most part harmless and are the people that need to be remembered the most in the season for giving. I spent the Tuesday before Thanksgiving boxing up canned foods for needy families. It reminds you how important it is to volunteer on a regular basis and not just during the holiday season, because homelessness and poverty continues to rise.